Western Kansas world., 1887-01-15

ballots could be complsfed. The chana
made at the special session Of 1885, In th
officers, has nothing to recommend 1t, anS
the old system Of spring elections should b
! restored.
THE INSURANCE DEPARrGKNr.
The report of the superintendent Of In
suranoe presents full information concern
ing the financial standing of the eompanie
transacting business in the state. It also en-
bodies number of suggestions and recon-
mendations touching our insurance laws
70 which direct your considerate atten
the most efficient safeguards for the protec
ton Of policy holders, is demonstrated b,
the enormous sums annually paid by oul
people to secure that protection against los
which Q well regulated and honestly COD
Quoted insurance business ought to and vii
afford. During the year 1885 the risk
written in Kansas aggregated $115, 1872
and the premiums paid thereon, by ou1
panies carrying these risks, aggregated
$702, ,927. The receipts of the companies
were, therefore, s., ,300, ,755 in excess Of the
losses paid. A business yielding such enor-
nous profits ought to secure for the in
sured absolute protection, and it is the duty
of the Legislature to see that every possible
legal safeguard is provided against unsafe,
dishonest or recklessly managed companies.
direct your attention to, and renew, with
and recommendations Of my biennial mes
sage of 1886, touching the conditions and
stipulations contained in insurance policies.
It seems to me that it is tho plain duty of
the legislature to protect tho citizens of
Kansas against such manifest wrongs and
injustice as may be perpetrated under the
conditions and stipulations referred TO.
purpose in view. invoke your speciAl
consideration for this subject, and earnest
iy trust that it will receive early and favora-
BILE action.
Onr laws require the superintendent Of
insurance to make an annual report to the
governor. This law was enacted before tho
constitutional amendment providing for
biennial sessions Of the Legislature was
adopted. 1 would recommend that the in
surance law be amended 80 as to require
from the head of that department. biennial
report. l would also call your attention to
the requirements of section 13, chapter SO,
session laws of 1871. 1t seems to me that
much of the information called for by this
section need not be included in the superin-
tendent's report. So many companies are
now doing business in Kansas that publ
cation of "the i.formation contained in the
statements" required from such companies
swells the superintendent's report to an ex-
pensive volume of 365 pages. Not one-third
OF this matter is of any general interest or
,alue, and it ought to be eliminated from
he published reports, thereby effecting a
large reduction in the states printing bills.
The report of the state house commission,
ers will furnish you detailed account of the
progress of work on the capitol and the cost
one of the most beautiful assembly rooms
in the United States. The walls of the CEN
trail wing of the building have been flushed
to the height Of the first story. The COM
missioners have invited architects to submit
plans and specifications for completing the
and will present those received for
your consideration. cordially approve the
of the commissioners, that
the south wing of the capitol be completed
s begun. By adopting this plan of con-
'truction, the supreme court and executive
officers of the state can be furnished with
much needed rooms within two years, and
without increasing the tax levy for state
house purposes.
THE ADJUTANT GENERALS DEPARTMENT.
The Kansas National Guard has been full
y organized under the provisions of the
militia law of 1885. 1t is composed of four
regiments and one battery, comprising an
Elective force of 900 officers and men.
The report of the adjutant general furnishes
ull information concerning its organiza-
lis suggestions, together with the recon-
1endations of the military board, to your
onsiderste attention.
No state in the union can muster finer
'ody of young men than those enlisted in
he Kansas National Guard, and their ap-
drill and soldierly conduct in camp |
nd field, have justly received the highest |
raise.
In March last, in response to call from
be sheriff of Labette county and the mayer |
T Parsons, ordered one regiment of the |
uard-the frst-on active duty, to support |
he civil authorities in maintaining law and |
rider. Within six or eight hours after the |
was issued, every company was in |
e armory, ready for duty, and within |
wenty-four hours the whole regiment was |
at Parsons. It's presence there |
once restored order, and enabled the
ivil officers to reassert their authority. The |
with which the officers and men
,sponded to the call made upon them, and
10 admirable temper, good sense and pru
ence displayed b. them in discharging the
elicate duties of their position, were in the
ighest degree commendable.
The adjutant general has succeeded in |
aving an old claim of the state, amounting
$N, 1850, on account of arms issued to
le territory of Kansas, and charged, by the
department of the general gov
nment, against the state, adjusted and al
wed. The ordnance account of Kansas
I'd, previous to the adjustment of this &C
'unt been overdrawn $12,635.73. The
edit given the state relieved it of
is overdraft, and gave Kansas balance of
u, ,812.T.
The enrolment of volunteer soldiers of
o union army, now residing in the state,
Is been completed, and the names of near
one hundred thousand soldiers, arranged
alphabetical order, and by states and reg
,ents, are now recorded in the books of
9 adjutant generals Office. These records
| fifteen large volumes, and will be of
eat value to soldiers seeking the post Office
dress Of surviving comrades. The adju-
ut general has already been enabled to
swer over four thousand inquiries con-
rning soldiers who are now citizens Of
ansas. ~
Sections %, % and 30, Of the militia Law Of